Why keep over 22 embassies and diplomatic missions that do not add anything significant to Ghana’s socio-economic development? This is the case of the former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak.
The former legislator says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs a drastic reset and that reset must ensure that at least 22 embassies and diplomatic missions of Ghana in other countries are scrapped.
It is the case of Ras Mubarak that these embassies and diplomatic missions are causing a significant financial drain on the country’s meagre financial resources, yet they bring in little to nothing for the country.
Commending the government for its financial prudence leading to significant expenditure cuts, he believes that it makes no sense for millions of taxpayers’ funds to be expended on missions and embassies without any real returns, while education, healthcare, and infrastructure development continue to suffer.
In an open letter to the President cited by The High Street Journal, Ras Mubarak maintained that, “In an era where even the richest countries are struggling to meet the most pressing needs of their people, we, a developing country, cannot afford to spend beyond our means. Difficult and painful decisions ought to be made to give the Ghanaian people the dignity they deserve.”
He adds that it is extremely expensive to run embassies and missions, and hence, less important ones must be scrapped for the savings to be diverted to critical sectors of the economy.
“We can’t keep paying for high rent costs while kids in schools up and down the country sit on the floor. Keeping these embassies cannot be justified when clinics in rural Ghana are an eyesore. By scrapping these missions, Ghana can save on operational costs, including rent, utilities, salaries, and other expenses,” he tells the President.
He adds that, “the cost savings from scrapping these diplomatic missions and embassies can be substantial. Based on average costs, estimated savings range in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”
It could be anticipated that this radical proposal may face pushback from within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but others view it as a necessary reform to reduce Ghana’s diplomatic footprint and redirect funds toward domestic development.
With pressure coming from within his own party, President Mahama now faces a crucial decision whether to preserve the status quo or reconfigure Ghana’s foreign engagement to match its limited fiscal space.
As to what President John Dramani Mahama will do, only time will tell.
